Bird⋅The⋅Rock will be offering a series of small group tours from May-August 2017. Join us on one of the dates below for a great birding trip to Newfoundland’s beautiful boreal forests and spectacular seabird colonies! Tours are leisurely paced and do not require long or difficult hikes, however weather appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear are recommended.

• Expected group sizes are 4-8 people. All tours start and end in St. John’s and run ~7:30am-5:00pm. Picnic style lunch included.

Seabirds & Songbirds of the Northeast Avalon

This tour begins with a morning birding in a variety of songbird habitats, searching out gems such as Boreal Chickadee, Fox Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher and numerous species of warbler – among many others. In the afternoon, we take a boat tour of Witless Bay Ecological Reserve which is home to more than 4 million seabirds – including North America’s largest Atlantic Puffin colony, thousands of Common Murre, Black-legged Kittiwake, and Razorbill. And of course, we may also encounter whales.   (Tour includes boat tour and picnic style lunch).

Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve

This tour is a day-trip to visit the majestic Northern Gannet colony at Cape St. Mary’s, where 30,000 of these beautiful birds nest atop a towering sea stack and nearby cliffs.  We will also enjoy the thousands of other seabirds at this site, including Black-legged Kittiwake, Common Murre and the world’s southernmost breeding Thick-billed Murre. We will look for Horned Lark, American Pipit and other songbirds on the beautiful sub-arctic tundra, as well as other wildlife and unique wildflowers. Willow Ptarmigan, raptors and possibly Woodland Caribou may be spotted along the way. Several short stops will be made during our drive to stretch our legs and look for boreal songbirds.    (Tour includes picnic style lunch).

Birding on the Edge (of Avalon)   July 30-31

This  two-day tour explores one of Newfoundland’s most rare and special places – the sub-arctic barrens of the southeast Avalon Peninsula. We will search for tundra birds such as Willow Ptarmigan, Horned Lark and migrating Whimbrel. Seabirds such as Atlantic Puffin, Black Guillemot and Razorbill can be found nesting along the rugged coast and towering cliffs. Sheltered patches of forest and tuckamore are home to hardy songbirds such as Boreal Chickadee, Yellow-bellied Flycatchers and Gray Jays. And with any luck we may spot some of the world’s southernmost Woodland Caribou, Moose or frolicking Whales! We’ll enjoy a guided hike to the ancient fossils of Mistaken Point (Canada’s newest UNESCO World Heritage Site), and visit two of the island’s most iconic lighthouses including Cape Race which played a prominent role in the final hours of the Titanic tragedy.   (Tour includes two picnic-style lunches, breakfast and one night accommodations in beautiful Trepassey). Read more here.

*This tour can be combined with other day tours on July 28 & 29 for a comprehensive 4-day tour of the Avalon Peninsula.

 SCHEDULE (SUMMER 2017)

Tuesday, May 30: Seabirds and Songbirds of the Northeast Avalon

Wednesday, May 31: Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve

Saturday, June 10: Seabirds and Songbirds of the Northeast Avalon

Sunday, June 11: Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve

Saturday, June 17: Seabirds and Songbirds of the Northeast Avalon

Sunday, June 18: Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve

Saturday, July 8: Seabirds and Songbirds of the Northeast Avalon

Sunday, July 9: Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve

Friday, July 28: Seabirds and Songbirds of the Northeast Avalon

Saturday, July 29: Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve

Sunday, July 30 – Monday, July 31: Birding on the Edge (of Avalon)

Saturday, August 5: Seabirds and Songbirds of the Northeast Avalon

Sunday, August 6: Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve

Contact Bird⋅The⋅Rock for more information or to book your tour now.